Display device



Feb. 4, 1958 G. H. PRUITT, sR 2,821,801

- DISPLAY DEVICE Filed April 15. 1955 s sheets-sheet 1 w v Y ATTO l2 M E Yr Feb.'4, 1958 G. H. FRUIT-r, sR

DISPLAY DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April l5, 1955 IWI'. U

NUE,

G. H. PRUITT, SR

DISPLAY DEVICE Feb. 4, 1958 ,J Filed April L 15, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 K INVENTOR. V Saone?. H. Pauw-13S@ United States Patent() This invention relates to improvements in display devices of the type involving walking figures. It is an object of this invention to provide a display device of this character which can be suspended from an overhead support -or rested upon a supporting surface.

1t is a further object of this invention to provide a display device of the character indicated, which is of relatively simple and rugged construction, reliable in operation, and capable of being readily set up and installed.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a display device which is specially adaptable for use at the Christmas season and simulates the traditional sleigh pulled by a plurality of reindeer.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description, forming the specification, and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figire 1 is a side elevational view of the forward portion of a device according to the present invention;

Figure 1a is a continuation of Figure 1 showing the rearward portion of the device;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 2a is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 2li-2a of Figure la;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially along line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 3a is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 3a-3a of Figure 2a; and

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of Figure 3a and looking in the `direction of the arrows.

With continued vreference to the drawings, the illustrated display device comprises a rear support in the form of a sleigh, generally indicated at 10, having the usual body 12 and runners 14, with the body 12 having a bottom wall 16 serving as the bed of the sleigh. A pair of spaced, upright supports 18 and 20 depend from thesleigh `bottom wall 16 and Aare adapted to support the sleigh upon a supporting surface, with the runners 14 slightly spaced above the surface.

A generally rectangular at horizontal tongue 22 is xed relative to and extends forwardly from the sleigh bottom wall 16. A plurality of animal leg-simulating elements 24 are pivotally mounted in longitudinally spaced relation on the tongue 22 and depend therefrom at one side thereof for movement in vertical arcuate paths lying in "the same vertical Plane. A similar plurality of animal leg-simulating elements 26 are similarly pivotally mounted on the tongue in spaced relation longitudinally therealong at the other side of the tongue for movement in vertical arcuate paths lying in the same vertical plane, whichv vertical plane is parallel to the vertical planein which the elements 24 move in their arcuate patlis.-A yIt-willbe noted that the elements 24 and 26 2,821,801? Patented Feb. 4, 1958 ice on opposite sides of the tongue, are arranged so the elements 24 and 26 are paired in transverse alignment.

The elements 24 and 26 are pivoted to the respective side edges of the tongue 22 by screws 28 passing through suitably formed openings in the elements and threadingly engaged into said side edges, with washers 30 interposed between the heads of the screws and said elements land between said elements and the side edges of the tongue.

Adjacent its forward end the tongue 22 has secured thereto a depending forward support frame, generally designated 32, for supporting the forward end of the tongue at a sullicient height above a supporting surface so that the elements 24 and 26 will be disposed with their lower free ends above the surface upon which the support frame 32 and supports 18 and 20 rest.

Fixed centrally upon the upper surface of the tongue 22 and extending longitudinally thereof, is a reinforcing bar 34, of generally square cross section, which extends from the sleigh 10 to the forward end of the tongue. Means are provided for moving the animal leg-simulating elements 24 and 26 in their vertical arcuate paths in a reciprocating manner. This means comprises an electric motor 36 mounted on the bottom wall 16 of the sleigh with a exible coupling 38, preferably in the form of a length of rubber tubing, extending between the motor output shaft and a worm gear shaft 4@ rotatably mounted 'adjacent its opposite ends in a pair of bearings 42 carried by the upstanding leg 44 of an Lshaped 4bracket 46 mounted on the bottom wall 16. Another L-shaped bracket 48 like the bracket 46 is mounted on the bottom wall 16 with its upstanding leg 50 in spaced parallel, and opposed relation to the opstanding leg 44. A gear shaft 52 is journaled in aligned bearing openings in the legs 44 and 50 so as to extend perpendicularly thereto and perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the shaft 40. A gear 54 is xedly mounted on the shaft 52 between the upstanding legs 44 and 50 and is in mesh with the worm gear 56 xedly carried on the worm gear shaft 40.

At its opposite ends, the gear shaft 52 has xedly secured thereon circular discs 58 and 60 disposed outwardly of the respective brackets 46 and 48. One end 62 of a connecting rod is pivoted eccentrically to the outer face of the disc 5S adjacent its periphery as by a bolt or screw 66, the connecting rod 64 extends forwardly from the sleigh through the opening 68 in the forward end wall 70 of the sleigh and has an inwardly angulated intermediate portion 72, merging into a forward end portion 74 which is disposed above the upper surface of the tongue 22 and near the adjacent side of the reinforcing bar and laterally inwardly of the upper portion of the rearmost leg element 26.

A pivot bolt 76 extends through the forward end of the rod portion 74 and also through a suitably aligned opening in the upper portion of the element 26 so that the element is operatively connected to the motor 36.

The rear end of a link 78 is pivotally engaged on the bolt 76 between the rod portion 74 and the related leg element 26, with suitable washers 34 on the bolt 76 disposed between the link '78 and the rod portion 74 and between the link 78 and the leg element 26, as shown in Figure 2a.

The forward end of the link 7 8 is pivotally engaged on a bolt 86 extending transversely therethrough and through a suitably aligned opening in the upper portion of the next forward animal leg-simulating element 26 with suitable washers disposed therebetween. The next forward link 88 is pivotally engaged on the bolt 86, outwardly of the link 78, that is the side thereof remote from the element 26, for pivotal movement thereabout with a suitable washer interposed between the links 7S and 88.

In similar manner, the remaining leg elements 26 are connected together by succeeding links so that reciprocatory motion is imparted thereto as the connecting rod 64 is reciprocated by action of the motor 36 acting through the flexible coupling 3S, gears 56 and 54, shaft 52 and disc 5S. Hence, all of the leg elements 26 on one side of the tongue 22 are simultaneously recipro'cated in their vertical arcuate paths in a commonv vertical plane.v

The bolt 90 connecting the forward end of the forwardmost link 82 to the forwardmost one of the leg elements 26 has one end of a contractile coil spring 92 secured thereto with the other end of the coily spring secured to the upper end of a vertical stud 94, which stud extends through suitably aligned openings in the reinforcing bar 34, tongue 22 and the top cross piece 31 of the support frame 32. Thus, the spring 92 extends rearwardly from the bolt 9U and is secured at the upper surface of the reinforcing bar 34 adjacent the forward end thereof, as clearly shown in Figure 2. Thus, as the series 8@ of links 82 is caused to reciprocate, the links will move in one direction against the resistance of the spring 92, and the spring will assist the series of links in moving in the opposite direction so as to make the reeiprocation thereof, and consequently the reciprocation of the elements 26, smooth and continuous.

A connecting rod 98, similar to the rod 64, but disposed at the opposite side of the bar 34 from the rod 64, has one end 100 eccentrically pivoted on the outer face of the disc 69 adjacent the periphery thereof and at a point 180 degrees out of phase with the pivotal connection of the rod 64 on the disc 58. The rod 9i; extends through an opening 102 in the end wall 70 of the sleigh body and then has its intermediate portion 104 inclined inwardly and extending forwardly so as to tend to converge toward the similarly inclined intermediate portion 72 of the rod 64. The forward end portion 106 of the rod 98 is pivotally mounted upon a bolt or pin 108 extending transversely therethrough and through the upper portion of the rearrnost animal leg-simulating element 24.

Thus, as the motor 36 is put into operation, the rod 93 will be reciprocated and impart reciprocatory motion to the leg element 24 so as to move the leg element in its vertical arcuate path in a reciprocating manner, and 189 out of phase with the simultaneous movement of the transversely aligned leg element 26'.

The forwardmost link 110 of the series of connected links, generally designated 112, has its rear end mounted on the pin S so as to have the reciprocatory motion of the lever 98` imparted therethrough through the pin or bolt 198. Suitable washers are interposed between the related leg element 24, link 110, and forward end portion 106 of the connecting rod 98.

As in the case of the link 78, the other end of the link 110 is engaged on a pin or bolt 114 extending transversely therethrough and through an aligned opening in the upper portion of the next forward leg element 24 so that the reciprocatory motion imparted to the link 1.10 will be imparted to the next forward leg element 24 through the pin or bolt 114. The next forward link 116, in the series of links 112, has one end thereof engaged on the pin or bolt 114 and extends forwardly therefrom with its other end engaged on a similar bolt or pin which extends through the next forward link end and through the next forward animal-simulating leg 24. This link arrangement continues for the entire length of thc tongue 22 so that the leg elements 24 are connected together through the series of links whereby reciprocatory motion may be simultaneously imparted thereto upon operation of the motor 36 with the leg elements 24' being out of phase in their movements with the movemen-ts of they leg elements 26.

A coil spring 11S has one end thereof secured to the pin or bolt 120 extending through the forward end of the forwardmost link 122 and its other end secured `o'n the bolt 94, so as to act as a resilient return means for the series of links 112 which are moved in one direction against the resistance of the spring 118 and are assisted in their movement in the opposite direction by the spring 118.

Secured to the opposite side edges of the tongue 22, and disposed between adjacent pairs of the leg elements 24 and 26, are spacer blocks 124 andv 125, respectively. To the outer side of each of the blocks 124 and 125, there is secured a vertical body plate 126 inY theform of the body of an animal, illustrated in the present drawings as that of a reindeer, by means of suitable fasteners, such as bolts 128.

Similarly, body plates 130' are mounted on the outer sides of the spacer blocks 126 on the opposite side of the tongue 22, as by bolts 132. The body plates 130 are also in the form of an animal body, in the illustratedv drawings, that of a reindeer, and are transversely aligned with the corresponding ones of the body plates 126 on the opposite side of the tongue. Thus, looking at Figures 2 and 2a, it will be seen that the pairs of alignedy animal leg-simulating elements 24 and 26 on opposite sides of the tongue behind the body plates 126 and 130, respectively, combine together to simulate an animal figure in the form of a reindeer. It will also be noted that the lower horizontal portions of the plates 126 and 128 overlie and conceal the upper portions of the leg elements 24 and 26, with the leg elements depending below the plates.

A horizontal cover plate 134 extends longitudinally of the tongue 22 in spaced parallel relation thereabove and between the body plates 126 and 130, as clearly shown in Figure 4, and is secured at its side edges to the body plates in a suitable manner.

In order to provide means whereby the display device may be suspended from overhead means, such as a cable extending between two supports, the device is providedv with a plurality of upstanding support rods 1'36, having their upper ends formed as hooks 138 to engage about` a cable strung between two supports. The lower ends of the support rods extend through aligned bores in the cover plate 134, the reinforcing bar 34 and the tongue 22 centrally intermediate the ends thereof and along the longitudinal center line thereof, and on the lower ends of the rods 136 are nuts 140. The rearmost one, of the support rods 136, which extends upwardly from the sleigh 10, may be secured in similar fashion to the bottom wall 16 thereof. To complete the device, a plurality of reins 142 lead from each of the animal bodysimulating plates 126 and 130 rearwardly toward the sleigh 10 and are tied at their free rear ends to the forward portion of the sleigh, as shown in Figure la. Also, each of the animal leg-simulating elements 24 and 2'6 have bands secured about the lower hoof ends thereof with bells secured upon these bands so that when the leg elements are reciprocated, the bells will jingle. The bells are indicated at 144.

While there is shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the structure is susceptible to change and modification within the practicability of the invention and therefore should be limited only by the scope of the claim appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

In a display device, a horizontal tongue having opposite side edges and front and rear ends, leg means comprising at least one leg element positioned at opposite sides of said tongue, and said leg elements having lower ends and upper ends, pivot means mounted on and projecting laterally outwardly from said opposite side edges of the tongue and traversing the related leg element at a point intermediate the ends of the leg element, connecting rods having forward ends pivoted to the leg elements at the opposite sides of the tongue at points above said pivot means, said connecting rods having rear ends, and motor means mounted on said rear end of the tongue including eccentric means operatively connected to the rear ends of the connecting rods, said leg means comprising further leg elements mounted on the side edges of the tongue and spaced forwardly from said one leg element, links having forward ends pivoted to the further leg elements and rear ends pivoted to said one leg element,v vertical body plates secured to the side edges of the tongue at points between the first and second mentioned leg elements, said body plates overlying and concealing said links and the upper ends of the leg elements and exposing the remainders of the leg elements below the body plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,058,150 Carr Apr. 8, 1913 1,556,133 Stanley Oct. 6, 1925 1,6l4,475 Hokanson Jan. 18, 1927 2,502,230 Nigoghosian Mar. 28, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 188,546 Great Britain Nov. 16, 1922 

